The benefits of Visual Studio and the mainstream Windows platform:VisualAPL is a .Net fully integrated with Visual Studio 2005 (and 2008). It provides an easy way for APL programs to inter-operate with other Visual Studio .Net languages such as C#, VB.Net, C++(managed), Ruby(DLR), etc. VisualAPL can use any feature of the .Net framework and VisualAPL source code can be compiled to the Microsoft Common Language Runtime (CLR) just like any other .Net language.

The benefits of VisualAPL the interactive, interpretive â€˜sessionâ€™:Sometimes the use of compiled code and its associated workflow is not ideal for software development. One of the most important features of VisualAPL which distinguishes it from many other .Net languages is the VisualAPL "Cielo Explorer". The "Cielo Explorer" is the interactive, fully interpreted session for VisualAPL. Using the "Cielo Explorer" the APL programmer can create APL variables, APL functions, use any .Net facility and interactively view and test the program code.

The "Cielo Explorer" operates interactively, interpreting the programmerâ€™s statements just as the 'session' in legacy implementations of APL.

In addition, the programmer can create any number of "Cielo Explorer" sessions which are containers for APL variables and functions. These sessions can be named, edited, saved, recalled and re-used by the APL programmer just like a legacy APL workspace. Additional benefits of "Cielo Explorer" sessions include: